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Free Malaysia Today
07-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Belawai boat capsized due to overloading, say police
Five more victims of the boat that capsized off Belawai, Sarawak, were found this morning. (JBPM pic) PETALING JAYA : Overloading caused a boat to capsize off Belawai, Sarawak, killing 10 people on Saturday, say police. Sarikei police chief Aswandy Anis said an early investigation found that the fibreglass boat was not designed to carry 17 people or the extra baggage it had, Kosmo reported. 'The small boat became hard to control and sank after it encountered rough waves,' he said at a press conference after a search-and-rescue operation this morning. The Sarawak fire and rescue department said rescuers had found five more victims in the morning, bringing the total number of casualties to 10. A spokesman said the bodies of the victims – all Indonesian nationals – were recovered by villagers as well as the Sarawak coast guard. In the incident at about 2pm on Saturday, the fibreglass boat carrying 17 Indonesian nationals from the Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty capsized en route to the Zion Pelita coconut plantation jetty. The seven survivors comprised four men, two women and a boy. Aswandy reminded boat operators and residents to priortise safety while travelling in both the rivers and the sea. 'Don't take safety lightly. Even rivers can see sudden strong waves,' he said.
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Five more bodies recovered in Belawai boat capsize tragedy
KUCHING: The remaining five victims of a boat capsize incident in Belawai, Mukah Division, last Saturday were recovered today, bringing the death toll to 10. A spokesperson from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department operations centre said all five victims recovered today were Indonesian men. The first body, identified as Asbar, was found by villagers at 6.50am. "The second victim, Rabanai Rabai, was discovered at 7.50am, followed by Resky Adrian at 7.55am, Muhammad at 8.10am, and Ardy at 8.30am. Four of the victims were found by villagers, with three recovered at Muara Belawai and one at the Sungai Pinang junction in Belawai. "The final victim was located by the Sarawak Coast Guard near Tanjung Manis," the spokesperson said. Yesterday, the body of a boy was found about 6pm, some 300 metres downstream from the Fire and Rescue Department's forward command post. Four other victims were found washed up on the beach shortly after the incident occurred on Saturday. Seven others, including four adult men, two adult women, and a boy, survived the incident, which occurred at 2pm. The boat was reportedly travelling from the Kampung Belawai fishing jetty to the plantation jetty at Pelita Zone when it capsized. It was also carrying daily necessities purchased in Belawai. The authorities received a distress call at 2.11pm and deployed a team from the Tanjung Manis Fire and Rescue station, located about 22km from the scene. The ongoing search and rescue operation, activated on Saturday, involved the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, police, Sarawak Coast Guard and the People's Volunteer Corps.
The Star
06-07-2025
- The Star
Fifth body recovered, five still missing from Belawai boat tragedy
MUKAH: The death toll from Saturday's (July 5) boat tragedy off the coast of Pantai Belawai rose to five on Sunday after another victim was found, as efforts continue to locate five others still missing. A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the body of a boy, whose age has yet to be determined, was recovered at 6pm, about 300m from the scene. "As of now, five victims have been confirmed dead, five are still missing and seven have been rescued. The five missing victims are all adult males," the spokesman said in a statement. In the incident that occurred around 2pm Saturday, a fibreglass boat carrying 17 Indonesian nationals from Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty capsized en route to the Zion Pelita Coconut Plantation jetty. The seven survivors include four adult men, two adult women and a boy. Meanwhile, the four deceased victims found earlier comprised two adult women, a boy and a girl. The search and rescue operation continues with surface-level searches within a 3km radius of the incident location, assisted by the police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Sarawak Coast Guard, Rela and local villagers. Sunday's operation was called off at 6.40pm and will resume Monday morning. - Bernama
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Four dead, six missing after boat capsizes off Belawai beach
A Bomba personnel combing the area in search of the missing victims. – Bomba photo SIBU (July 5): Four people have been confirmed dead, six are still missing, and seven survived after a boat carrying 17 passengers capsized near Belawai beach, Kampung Belawai, this afternoon. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Operations Centre said it received a distress call about the incident at 2.11pm, prompting the immediate deployment of a rescue team from the Tanjung Manis Fire and Rescue Station. Upon arrival at the scene at 3.12pm, responders found that a fibre boat with 17 people on board had overturned. At the time of writing, four fatalities have been confirmed, six individuals remain unaccounted for, and seven survivors have been identified. A search operation is underway along the shoreline, utilising a Bomba boat with support from a Sarawak Coast Guard vessel. 'Our personnel are still gathering further information from the boat driver, who survived the incident,' the department said in a statement. The rescue operation is led by Senior Fire Officer I (PBK I) Adam Gauk and involves six firefighters, along with a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT), a 4×4 vehicle, and a rescue boat. Other agencies involved in the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) operation include the police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Sarawak Coast Guard, and the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela). Belawai boat capsized bomba fatal lead missing SAR
